Suspension device.



J. P. STANTON! SUSPENSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. I916- 1,215,738. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES.- INVENTOR. 54? @MZM WEfim J. P. STANTON.

SUSPENSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, I916.

1,215,738. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

OFFIC.

JOHN P. STANTON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

snsrnnsroiv vinnvron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. 13,1917.

Application filed February 12, 1916. Serial No. 77,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. S'rAN'roma citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspension Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suspension devices and more particularly to that class thereof which are used in supporting the bodies of vehicles on the chassis or frame, and it has for one of its objects the provi sion of a device of this character comprising as its essential features a pair of members which aresubstantially similar in form and each of which has a portion thereof extending along the other at a point substantially midway between the point of support and the point where the load is carried.

The invention has, furthermore, for its object the provision of novel means for assembling and looking a pair of spring members, each of which being preferably in the form of a full elliptic spring.

The invention has, furthermore, for its object the provision of a spring, composed of a pair of members each formed from flat spring sheet metal doubled back upon itself in the form of a letter V. a

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and be particularly defined in the claims.

The invention has been clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side view of a spring em boclying my invention, in its assembled and complete form.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent, respectively, the

two essential spring members, per se.

Fig. 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, the manner in which the adjacent ends of the two spring members are doubled together and reinforced.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent, respectively, an

end view and a side view of a clip used in conjunction with the interlocked portion of the spring members.

Fig. 7 shows the essential or primary members of the spring assembled and placed under load.

Fig. 8 shows a modification in the assemblage represented in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 embodies a modification of that shown in Fig. 8, and 1 Fig. 10 shows the preferred form of assemblage and shape of the spring performing the same function as that illustrated in Fig. 1. I I

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, M designates in ageneral way the upper member of the spring, shown also, per .96, in Fig. 2. The lower portion of the spring is designated by M and is also clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. It will here be seen that each spring member is formed of a strip of flat spring metal bent back as at 10 and 10, respectively, thus producing a pair of leaves 11* and 11 on the member M and leaves 12 and 12 on the member M. 1 The free end of each of the leaves 11 12 are bent back as indicated at 11 and 12, and it will be noted that the return bends 11 and 12 are of such size that they will fit within the return bends 10 and 10 above referred to, as can be readily understood by inspection of Fig. 7. The leaves 11 and 12 of the two spring members will thus come into position adjacent each other as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and, in order to hold the two spring members'M and M in this assembled condition I provide a curved member 13 within each bend 11 and 12, the terminals of this member being curled (see also Fig. 4:) to receive pins or transverse bolts 15 the'outer ends of which are engaged by eyes 16 (see Fig.'6) of a clip C. r

This clip comprises a main web 17 extending laterally of the spring leaves, and has at each end a pair of arms 18 between which the spring leaves are disposed and which are of a length so as to bring the mam web 17 to rest against the outer face of the outer bend of each spring member, so that in this manner the two members'M and M are held against opening at those points, without, however, interfering in any way with the resiliency of the respective leaves of said members.

While under some conditions a spring formed of the two members .M and M may be sufficient to attain the desired support, yet I prefer to employ in connection therewith a pair of half elliptic springs E and E the central portions of which may be secured'to the central portions of the outer leaves of the spring members in any desired manner. In Fig. 1 I have represented as the load-sustaining support, a clip or bracket B while the chassis or frame F is supported on top of the upper half-elliptic spring-E and is secured on the central portion of a clip B.

When the two members M and M are assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 7 the leaves 11 and 12 will be normally disposed adjacent each other for their entire length; but when load is placed upon the upper leaves of the upper member M, these leaves 11 and-12 of the two members will assume a position substantially ShOWn in Fig. 7 in which it will be noted that these two leaves have been slightly sprung away from each other in their central portions, dueto the reinforced return bends of the members whereby that; portion of thespring is materially stiffened.

From the foregoing itwill be understood that the ends 12 and 11,are effective in increasing the resistance to the bending of the leaves at that point. On theother hand it .will be noted that the rebound of the upper and lower leaves 11 and 12 would have .a tendency of springing away from theseextensions 12 and 11, and, in order to prevent this rebound and to act in the capacity of a shock absorber, I provide these ends with clips 20 whichmay be secured firmly to the outer leaves so as to permit the inner ends l2 and 11 to slide therethrongh to :the small amount which the opening ofthe bend would bring forth.

Referring to Fig. 8, I have illustrated means whereby the essential main springs M and iv may be held in; substantially uniform horizontalposition during the action of. the entire spring under load, these means consisting preferably of straps 21 whereby the auxiliary supporting springs 22 are connected at their freefends with the adjacent. ends 23 ofthe main embers M and M, respectively. Likewise the ends 23 are connected with reinforcing members 13 by links 25, and, if desired, the said reinforcing members may also be connected with the auxiliary supporting springs22, as shown in Fig. 8,'by links 24.

9 illustrates a ,modification of the construction shown in Fig. 8 to the extent that the bends of the members M and M are brought into central longitudinal alinement with-the main adjacent leaves 11 and 12 sothat this bend will be in alinement with the joint faces between these; adjacent leaves. In this case I can employ links 25 ofequa-l length to take the placeof the links 2% and25 above referred to.

Fig. 10 illustrates the preferred and most simplified form of the entire spring in which the-links havebeen entirely dispensed with and the free ends of the auxiliary leaves E and E may also be passed through the straps or clips 20, 20, so that the parts mayhave the necessary freedom of movement-whichis required under load orunder rebound.

Changesmay be made in the general organization, as well as in the particular construction of. the members composing my-improved suspension device, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially in the manner of connecting the principal components of the spring for coaction and in the formation of the means whereby said members are held together without in any way interfering with their proper spring function.

I claim 1 1. A spring comprising a pair of members, each1member beingibent into V form substantially midway of itslength to form a pairof leaves, one leaf of each member havinga return bend and thesesame leaves being assembledto bring the return bend of one member into the main bend of the other member.

2. A spring comprising a pair of members, each member being bent into -,V form substantially midway of its length to form a pair. of leaves, one leaf of each member having a returnbend and. these same leaves being assembled to bring the returnbend of one member into the main bend. of the other member,; and a reinforcing device disposed within thereturn bend.

3. A spring comprising aipair of;me mbers, eachmember being'bent into .V- form substantially midway of its length to form a pair of leaves, one-leaf of eachmemloer having a return bend and. these same leaves being. assembled toibring thereturn bend of one member into the main'bend of the other member, and means'for slidablysupporting eachrcturn; bend on the main outer leaf of the other main member.

1. A spring comprising a pair of mem bers, each member being bent into V formsubstantially midway, of its le gth, to form a pair of leaves, one leaf of eachmember 7105 having a return bend and thesesa ne leaves being assembled to bring the return bend of one member into the main bend ofthe other member, and a pair of auxiliary spring leaves secured to the outer leaves of 110 the main members, and meansfor connectingthe-outer ends of said auxiliary leaves with the main bends of the main members.

5. A spring comprising a pair of members, eachmember being bent into V- form 15 substantially midway. of its length to form a pair of leaves, one of said members having a return bend at the outer end of one of its leaves for receivingthe middle'bent portion of the other of said members.

6. A spring comprising a pair of members, each member being bent;into V form substantially midway of its lengthtoform a pair of leaves, one leaf of one of said members having a return bend, the said 25 members being assembled to position said return bend intothe main bend of; the other member.

7. A spring comprising a pair of members, .each member beingbent into V form .130

substantially midway of its length to form auxiliary leaves in contact with the main 10 a pair of leaves, one leaf of each member bends of the main members, respectively. having a return bend and these same leaves In testimony whereof I aflix my signature being assembled to bring the retuinllloendhof in presence of two Witnesses.

one member into the main bend o t e 01: er

member, and a pair of auxiliary spring JOHN STANTON leaves secured to the outer faces of the outer Witnesses: leaves of the main members, respectively, H. D. MACDONALD, and clips for holding the free ends of said V. L. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent inay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

